U.S. patent application number 13/052942 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-27 for systems and methods for specifying color tolerance intent and implementation as part of a digital print workflow.
This patent application is currently assigned to HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.. Invention is credited to Ehud Chatow, Carl Staelin.
Application Number | 20120243008 13/052942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46877112 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120243008 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chatow; Ehud ; et
al. |
September 27, 2012 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPECIFYING COLOR TOLERANCE INTENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION AS PART OF A DIGITAL PRINT WORKFLOW
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for enabling submission of
color accuracy requirements with the submission of a print job.
More specifically, a print job analysis system may be configured to
receive a print job request having a color accuracy requirement
level directly from a customer (or from an operator on behalf of
the customer). In addition, the print job analysis system may also
be configured to determine an appropriate color accuracy
requirement level for the print job request if no color accuracy
requirement level is directly provided with the print job request.
Furthermore, the print job analysis system may also be configured
to provide an analysis of recommended color accuracy requirement
levels to the customer and/or the operator if they are unsure of an
appropriate color accuracy requirement level to be used for the
particular print job.
Inventors: |
Chatow; Ehud; (Palo Alto,
CA) ; Staelin; Carl; (Haifa, IL) |
Assignee: |
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY, L.P.
Fort Collins
CO
|
Family ID: |
46877112 |
Appl. No.: |
13/052942 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1282 20130101;
G06F 3/1229 20130101; G06F 3/1205 20130101; G06F 3/126 20130101;
G06F 3/1208 20130101; G06F 3/1254 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.9 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/00 20060101
G06F015/00 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving into an electronic device a
print job request from a customer for printing of a requested print
job; and analyzing the print job request using the electronic
device to determine a color accuracy requirement level for the
requested print job.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising scheduling the requested print
job using the electronic device such that the color accuracy
requirement level for the requested print job is achieved.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein scheduling the requested print
job comprises scheduling the requested print job between a
plurality of different printing presses having different color
accuracy capabilities.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein scheduling the requested print
job comprises scheduling the requested print job based on
scheduling of calibration jobs for a plurality of printing presses
upon which the requested print job may be printed.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein scheduling the requested print
job comprises scheduling the requested print job based on
scheduling of a plurality of other print jobs.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the color accuracy
requirement level for the requested print job based on the customer
from which the print job request is received.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the color accuracy
requirement level for the requested print job based on a type of
the customer from which the print job request is received.
8. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the color accuracy
requirement level for the requested print job based on image
parameters in the requested print job.
9. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the color accuracy
requirement level for the requested print job based on a pricing
parameter of the requested print job.
10. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the color
accuracy requirement level for the requested print job on a
page-by-page basis.
11. A method, comprising: receiving into an electronic device a
print job request from a customer for printing of a requested print
job, wherein the print job request includes a color accuracy
requirement level for at least a portion of the requested print
job; and scheduling the requested print job using the electronic
device such that the color accuracy requirement level for the
requested print job is achieved.
12. The method of claim 11, comprising printing the requested print
job in accordance with the schedule.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein scheduling the requested print
job comprises scheduling the requested print job between a
plurality of different printing presses having different color
accuracy capabilities.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein scheduling the requested print
job comprises scheduling the requested print job based on
scheduling of calibration jobs for a plurality of printing presses
upon which the requested print job may be printed.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein scheduling the requested print
job comprises scheduling the requested print job based on
scheduling of a plurality of other print jobs.
16. The method of claim 11, comprising providing a plurality of
color accuracy requirement levels to the customer via the
electronic device such that the customer can select the color
accuracy requirement level for inclusion with the print job
request.
17. The method of claim 16, comprising providing pricing parameters
associated with the plurality of color accuracy requirement levels
to the customer via the electronic device.
18. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having computer
instructions encoded thereon, wherein the computer instructions
comprise instructions for: receiving a print job request from a
customer for printing of a requested print job, wherein the print
job request includes a color accuracy requirement level for at
least a portion of the requested print job; and scheduling the
requested print job such that the color accuracy requirement level
for the requested print job is achieved.
19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18,
wherein the computer instructions comprise instructions for
providing a plurality of color accuracy requirement levels to the
customer such that the customer can select the color accuracy
requirement level for inclusion with the print job request.
20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18,
wherein the computer instructions comprise instructions for
providing pricing parameters associated with the plurality of color
accuracy requirement levels to the customer.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various
aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the
present invention that are described or claimed below. This
discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with
background information to facilitate a better understanding of the
various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be
understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and
not as admissions of prior art.
[0002] Despite the emergence of the "electronic age," there is
still great demand for printed products. For example, commercial
printing has annual retail sales over $700 billion. Print service
providers (PSPs) fulfill the demand for printed products by
printing everything from photographs and brochures, course
materials, periodicals and books, to advertisements and product
packaging. The customers may be individuals, groups of individuals,
or organizations (non-profit, small business, corporation, and the
like). The PSPs may function to process print jobs for multiple
individuals, such as the customers of a large retailer, wherein the
large retailer takes orders from the individuals (e.g., for photo
calendars), and submits the order as a batch of individual customer
orders to the PSP.
[0003] In general, the customer creates the material to be printed,
or works with a third-party provider to generate the material to be
printed. The customer then submits an order including one or more
materials for the PSP to print, along with one or more additional
print parameters (e.g., paper type, layout, number of copies, due
date, any special instructions such as laminating, and shipping
information).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is an example of a workflow of a typical PSP that may
utilize color accuracy requirement levels in accordance with
present embodiments;
[0005] FIG. 2 depicts a spectrum of color accuracies for a
plurality of print jobs that may be utilized in accordance with
present embodiments;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a block flow diagram of an example of a print job
analysis system in accordance with present embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 4 is an example of a method for using a color accuracy
requirement level as part of a print job request for a print job in
accordance with present embodiments; and
[0008] FIG. 5 is an example of another method for using the color
accuracy requirement level in accordance with present
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0009] One or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise
description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual
implementation are described in the specification. It should be
appreciated that in the development of any such actual
implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous
implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the
developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related
and business-related constraints, which may vary from one
implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that
such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but
would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication,
and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of
this disclosure.
[0010] The embodiments presented herein are directed toward systems
and methods for specifying color tolerance intent and
implementation as part of a digital print workflow. Digital print
workflows typically start with the creation of digital documents
(e.g., PDF files) and end with physical documents generated through
print jobs. Generally, before the actual execution of a print job,
a digital workflow is created for predominantly automated execution
within a print service provider (PSP). As described above, the PSP
does not typically receive information relating to color tolerance
as part of a specific print job definition. Rather, color accuracy
requirements are usually either unspecified, uniformly applied, or
included in the salesperson's notes. As such, they are not
available to the automated workflow software for the optimization
and sorting of the print jobs.
[0011] The embodiments presented herein address this shortcoming by
adding a defined color tolerance parameter to the print job intent,
which is attached to the print job from submission to the PSP and
flows along with the print job through sorting, printing, and
quality control (QC). This enables a more efficient process for
sorting, scheduling, printing and QC, along with facilitating
appropriate pricing schemes. The disclosed embodiments include
changes in existing workflow steps and algorithms, such that higher
value print jobs with tighter color tolerances may receive more
attention and/or be printed after a specific color calibration
process. Conversely, print jobs with looser color tolerances might
be printed when the printing press has less accuracy, for example,
when consumables (e.g., blankets, photoconductor drums, and so
forth) are nearing the end of their lifetime, or with a lower
frequency color calibration process of the printing presses. As
such, not all print jobs are treated the same, but rather the order
of processing of the print jobs may be adjusted to more properly
match the color accuracy requirements of the print jobs with the
color accuracy status of the printing presses. In addition, it
should be noted that the actual content of the print job generally
impacts the ability of the printing press to accurately print the
print job. For example, it may be easier to print a black and white
print job with tight tolerances than a full-color print job with
tight tolerances. As such, the expected ability of a printing press
to print a certain print job within desired tolerances may be taken
into account when scheduling the print jobs. In addition, the
printing presses may include automatic quality control checks,
which may include color quality checks, among other things. As
such, the printing presses may automatically set the sensitivity of
the color quality checks based on the color accuracy
requirements.
[0012] Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 is an example of a
workflow 10 of a typical PSP that may utilize color accuracy
requirement levels in accordance with present embodiments. The
workflow 10 consists of two main groups of machines: printing
presses 12 and finishing machines 14. In particular, as illustrated
in FIG. 1, print jobs 16 enter the workflow 10 at a pre-printing
node 18, at which point any given print job 16 may be directed to
either a color printer 20 or a black/white printer 22 (i.e., the
printing machines 12) for color printing or black/white printing of
the print job 16, respectively. Once the print job 16 has been
printed, the print job 16 enters a post-printing/pre-finishing node
24, at which point the print job 16 may be directed to one or more
of the finishing machines 14, which as illustrated may include a
collator 26 for collating the print job 16, a cutter 28 for cutting
the print job 16 into particular page dimensions, and a binder 30
for binding the print job 16. None, one, two, or all of the
finishing machines 14 may be utilized for any particular print job
16. In addition, the finishing machines 14 for a particular print
job 16 may be utilized in various orders. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, in certain embodiments, the print job 16 may
be sent to a collator 26, a cutter 28, and a binder 30 in that
particular order. In addition, as also illustrated in FIG. 1, in
other embodiments, the print job 16 may be sent to a collator 26
and a binder 30 in that particular order. Once the print job 16 has
completed processing through the finishing machines 14, it may exit
the workflow 10 at a post-finishing node 32 where, for example,
quality assurance (QA) of the print job 16 may be ascertained. It
should be understood that a given PSP may include any number of
color printers 20, black/white printers 22, collators 26, cutters
28, and binders 30. In addition, a given PSP may have a vast array
of possible finishing machines 14, in addition to the collators 26,
cutters 28, and binders 30 illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0013] The embodiments presented herein are directed toward the
execution of the print jobs 16 through the color printers 20 of
FIG. 1. More specifically, as presented herein, a definition
relating to color accuracy for each print job 16 may be identified
by customers and/or recommended by operators for each print job 16
before execution by the printing presses 12. Achieving a color
accuracy of .DELTA.E of 1 for many print job types (e.g., print
jobs 16 having many image rich pages, print jobs 16 having
different substrates, and print jobs 16 that may be executed over
time and over multiple printing presses 12) can become costly, time
consuming, and lead to a lower yield. Conversely, achieving a color
accuracy of, for example, .DELTA.E of 8 could be beyond the color
tolerance that a particular customer or designer expects from the
PSP. In conventional techniques, when the customer does not
explicitly define the color tolerance for a print job 16, the
acceptance of the color quality of the print job 16 is subjective,
and can be dealt with differently by different PSPs.
[0014] For example, FIG. 2 depicts a spectrum of color accuracies
for a plurality of print jobs 16 that may be utilized in accordance
with present embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 2, as .DELTA.E
increases, the quality of the print job 16 generally decreases.
However, decreasing .DELTA.E can lead to increased costs. More
specifically, attaining high color accuracy and consistency has
costs associated with running regular calibration jobs, which
interrupt workflows and can cause print waste (e.g., of
consumables, and so forth). In addition, attaining higher color
accuracy can often result in shorter consumable lifetimes because
attaining higher color accuracy generally precludes the use of
older consumables. Obtaining high color accuracy may also be
accomplished by using a higher end printing press 12 or a printing
press 12 with an inline spectrophotometer for color monitoring of
every page. Conversely, allowing lower color accuracy may result in
higher utilization of the printing presses 12, but also generally
results in greater rejection and rework rates for print jobs 16 of
customers having higher color accuracy requirements. In other
words, color accuracy generally depends on both the color accuracy
requirement of the print job 16 and the difficulties or
capabilities of the printing press 12 in accurately printing the
particular print job content.
[0015] The embodiments presented herein include systems and methods
for defining the color tolerance per print job 16 or per individual
segments of the print job 16. As such, it is clear from the job
submission stage through the job printing stage and finally the QA
stage what the accepted color tolerance is, along with the pricing
or cost involved with the chosen color tolerance. Defining the
color tolerance for each print job 16 before printing increases the
yield of the print jobs 16 as the requirements are defined up front
and the print workflow and processes may be modified accordingly
per the color tolerance needs. Defining the color tolerance for
each print job 16 before printing also allows for pricing
differentiation based on final color accuracy requirements. As
such, the efficiency of the PSP will improve significantly.
[0016] More specifically, including the color accuracy requirements
as a parameter with the submission of the print job 16 (e.g., in a
JDF (job definition format) file, or other similar formats) enables
the automated management and matching of the time-varying color
accuracy capabilities of the printing presses 12 with the varying
color accuracy requirements of the print jobs 16 being processed
through the PSP. This enables the PSP to sort and schedule the
print jobs 16, increase the yield of the print jobs 16 with higher
color accuracy requirements, while also increasing overall
production efficiency.
[0017] Conversely, conventional techniques generally uniformly
apply target color accuracy guidelines to all print jobs 16. As
such, when attempting to set tighter color accuracy requirements,
the conventional techniques result in lower utilization and
increased waste associated with extra consumable replacements,
calibration steps, and so forth. Conversely, when attempting to set
looser color accuracy requirements, the conventional techniques
result in higher reject rates, more rework, and decreased customer
satisfaction. In addition, the conventional techniques often
require manual annotations to the job ticket, or other manual or
custom attention to print jobs 16 having higher color accuracy
requirements. Moreover, the conventional techniques often require
designers and color experts (e.g., from the customer side) to be at
the PSP to inspect quality and color tolerance, or to send the
rejected print jobs 16 back for reprinting. This results in much
higher labor costs and overheads.
[0018] As described above, the embodiments presented herein address
these shortcomings by enabling submission of color accuracy
requirements with the submission of the print job 16. More
specifically, in certain embodiments, an electronic device referred
to as a print job analysis system 34 may be used to enter a print
job request 36 relating to a particular print job 16, wherein the
print job request 36 includes a color accuracy requirement level 38
for at least a portion of the requested print job 16. FIG. 3 is a
block flow diagram of an example of the print job analysis system
34 in accordance with present embodiments. It should be understood
that the print job analysis system 34 described herein may actually
include multiple systems (e.g., a color requirement monitoring
system, a job scheduling system, a production management system,
and so forth) depending on the requirements of the separates
systems. However, the print job analysis system 34 described herein
is presented as addressing all of these various functions for the
PSP 44.
[0019] In certain embodiments, the color accuracy requirement level
38 for the requested print job 16 may include at least two aspects.
The first aspect is an absolute color accuracy requirement level
for the print job 16, whereas the second aspect is a relative color
accuracy requirement level within the print job 16. For example,
for any given print job 16, the absolute color accuracy requirement
level for a given instance of the print job 16 (e.g., a single
brochure in a print job 16 for ten copies of the brochure) may be
.+-.8 .DELTA.E, but the relative color accuracy requirement between
instances of the print job 16 (e.g., between a first and second
copy of the brochure) may be tighter (.+-.1 .DELTA.E), such that
the instances all look the same, despite the absolute color
accuracy of the instances.
[0020] As described in greater detail below, the print job analysis
system 34 may be configured to receive the print job request 36
having the color accuracy requirement level 38 directly from a
customer 40 (or from an operator 42 of the PSP 44). In addition, in
certain embodiments, the print job analysis system 34 may also be
configured to determine an appropriate color accuracy requirement
level 38 for the print job request 36 if no color accuracy
requirement level 38 is submitted with the print job request 36.
Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the print job analysis system
34 may also be configured to provide an analysis of recommended
color accuracy requirement levels 38 to the customer 40 and/or the
operator 42 of the PSP 44 if they are unsure of an appropriate
color accuracy requirement level 38 to be used for the particular
print job 16. In addition, in certain embodiments, the printing
presses 12 may include automatic quality control checks, which may
include color quality checks, among other things. As such, the
printing presses 12 may automatically set the sensitivity of the
color quality checks based on an appropriate color accuracy
requirement level 38.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the print job analysis system 34
may include a processor 46, which may read from and write to a
memory 48. The memory 48 may be a non-transitory, computer-readable
medium (e.g., a hard drive, flash drive, random access memory
(RAM), compact disc (CD), and so forth) having computer
instructions encoded thereon, which are configured to perform many
of the method steps described throughout the present disclosure.
The processor 46 is configured to perform the computer instructions
encoded on the memory 48. In addition, the memory 48 may store
real-time and/or historical data relating to the machines (e.g.,
the color printers 20, the black/white printers 22, the collators
26, the cutters 28, the binders 30, and so forth) of the PSP 44
described above. Such data may be utilized in scheduling print job
processes, such as the printing on the printing presses 12 (e.g.,
the color printers 20 described above).
[0022] In addition, in certain embodiments, data (e.g., the
real-time and/or historical data described above) may be received
from the PSP 44 via input/output (I/O) interfaces 50 that are
connected to the machines (e.g., the color printers 20, the
black/white printers 22, the collators 26, the cutters 28, the
binders 30, and so forth) of the PSP 44. Furthermore, in certain
embodiments, the print job analysis system 34 may include a display
52 for displaying information to the customer 40 and/or the
operator 48 of the PSP 44 and one or more interfaces 54 (e.g., a
keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, trackpad, scanning device, and so
forth, or any combination thereof) for receiving inputs from the
customer 40 and/or the operator 42. For example, as described
above, the print job analysis system 34 may be configured to
receive the print job request 36 having the color accuracy
requirement level 38 directly via input from the customer 40 and/or
the operator 42 received through the interfaces 54. In addition, as
described above, the print job analysis system 34 may also be
configured to provide an analysis of recommended color accuracy
requirement levels 38 to the customer 40 and/or the operator 42 via
the display 52 if they are unsure of an appropriate color accuracy
requirement level 38 to be used for the particular print job
16.
[0023] FIG. 4 is an example of a method 56 for using the color
accuracy requirement level 38 as part of the print job request 36
for a particular print job 16 in accordance with present
embodiments. In step 58, the print job analysis system 34 may
optionally provide an analysis of a plurality of recommended color
accuracy requirement levels 38 to the customer 40 and/or operator
42 of the PSP 44 for the print job 16. For example, if the customer
40 and/or operator 42 are unsure of an appropriate color accuracy
requirement level 38 for the print job 16, the customer 40 and/or
operator 42 may submit a request to the print job analysis system
34 (e.g., via the interfaces 54) to provide the plurality of
recommended color accuracy requirement levels 38 (e.g., via the
display 52) for the print job 16. In certain embodiments, the print
job analysis system 34 may also provide pricing parameters (e.g.,
overall cost, cost per particular pages, cost versus time when the
print job 16 will be delivered, and so forth) associated with the
plurality of recommended color accuracy requirement levels 38
(e.g., via the display 52) for the print job 16. In general, the
print job analysis system 34 evaluates the print job 16 to
determine appropriate color accuracy requirement levels 38 to both
maximize customer satisfaction in the resulting print job 16 and
minimize the requirements (e.g., consumables, and so forth) for the
printing presses 12, thereby improving the overall efficiency of
the PSP 44.
[0024] Whether or not the customer 40 and/or operator 42 requests
or uses the analysis described in step 58, in step 60, the print
job analysis system 34 may receive the print job request 36 for the
print job 16 via the interfaces 54. The print job request 36
includes the color accuracy requirement level 38, which is either
entered directly by the customer 40 and/or operator 42 (on behalf
of the customer 40) or selected from the plurality of recommended
color accuracy requirement levels 38. In general, the color
accuracy requirement level 38 will be submitted with the print job
request 36 in a JDF (job definition format) file that defines the
print job 16, or other similar digital format.
[0025] In certain embodiments, the customer 40 and/or operator 42
may specify different color accuracy requirement levels 38 for
different segments of the print job 16. For example, the customer
40 and/or operator 42 may specify different color accuracy
requirement levels 38 on a page-by-page basis. For example, on a
mixed text and color plate book job, the customer 40 may specify a
looser tolerance for the text pages, and a tighter tolerance for
the color plates. Similarly, for a textbook with a mix of 1-color
text, 2-color text and graphs, and 4-color text and image pages,
the color accuracy requirement level 38 may vary significantly
between pages.
[0026] In step 62, the requested print job 16 may be scheduled such
that the color accuracy requirement level 38 submitted with the
print job request 36 is achieved for the print job 16. More
specifically, the print job analysis system 34 may analyze the
print job 16 and the job plans for a plurality of printing presses
12 (e.g., the color printers 20 described above) to determine a
print plan for the print job 16 that is feasible to achieve the
color accuracy requirement level 38 associated with the print job
16. For example, each of the different printing presses 12 (e.g.,
inkjet, dry electrophotographic (EP), liquid electrophotographic
(LEP), offset, and so forth) may have different color accuracy
capabilities. Therefore, the job plan for the print job 16 may need
to be scheduled for specific printing presses 12 that can meet the
color accuracy requirement level 38 for the print job 16.
[0027] In addition, the print job analysis system 34 may analyze
the print job 16 and the scheduling of calibration jobs for the
plurality of printing presses 12 (e.g., the color printers 20
described above) to determine the print plan for the print job 16,
which is feasible to achieve the color accuracy requirement level
38 associated with the print job 16. In general, printing press
color consistency varies over time and is related to consumable
lifetime and the time since the last calibration job. For example,
Indigo printing presses tend to have higher color accuracy when
consumables such as blankets are younger and when color calibration
has been recently performed. Conversely, as the consumables age and
the time since the last calibration increases, color accuracy
generally diminishes.
[0028] The print job analysis system 34 takes this color
consistency into account when scheduling the print job 16. For
example, the print job analysis system 34 may schedule print jobs
16 with many colors and higher color accuracy requirement levels 38
on printing presses 12 shortly after consumable replacement and
color calibration jobs on the printing presses 12. Conversely, the
print job analysis system 34 may schedule print jobs 16 having
mostly text and/or black and white images and lower color accuracy
requirement levels 38 later, since their color accuracy requirement
levels 38 may still be met. This process of scheduling the print
jobs 16 at particular times with respect to servicing of the
printing presses 12 that are selected to print the print jobs 16
increases the effective consumable lifetime, reduces waste, and
increases throughput of the PSP 44 while also meeting customer
color accuracy requirements. It should be understood that very
large print jobs 16 may be switched out from printing presses 12
while servicing (e.g., the calibration jobs, replacement of
consumables, and so forth) of the printing presses 12 is
conducted.
[0029] In addition, the print job analysis system 34 determines the
scheduling of the print job 16 based on scheduling of a plurality
of other print jobs 16. In other words, while a particular printing
press 12 at a particular time may provide the best fit with the
color accuracy requirement level 38 of the print job 16, other
print jobs 16 may also be closely matched to that particular
printing press 12 at that particular time. As such, the timing and
distribution (e.g., among printing presses 12) of the print jobs 16
may be adjusted accordingly to ensure that the color accuracy color
requirements 38 for all of the print jobs 16 are achieved while
also maximizing throughput of the PSP 44 and most effectively using
the consumables of the printing presses 12.
[0030] Therefore, the print job analysis system 34 schedules the
print jobs 16 in order to accomplish a variety of optimization
constraints and goals. For example, the print job completion
deadlines must be met by the print job analysis system 34, the
individual print job costs and overall costs of the PSP 44 should
be minimized, the print shop throughput should be maximized, the
printing press and resource utilization rates should be maximized,
and so forth. Knowing the color accuracy requirement levels 38 for
the print jobs 16 provides a degree of flexibility and enables
optimization of these various aspects by potentially reducing the
time between consumable replacement and calibrations, while still
maximizing production and meeting quality constraints.
[0031] Furthermore, in addition to knowing the print job intent
(e.g., the color accuracy requirement level 38), the print job
analysis system 34 takes into account the current and expected
future states of the various devices (e.g., the printing presses 12
and other machines) so that the print job analysis system 34 may
predict the possible or expected color tolerances the printing
presses 12 will be able to meet for each print job 16 in the
future. In this scenario, the print job analysis system 34 may also
control the scheduling of some or all of the maintenance and
calibration tasks. Moreover, the print job analysis system 34 may
take into account the expected time and monetary costs of the
various maintenance and calibration tasks, as well as the impact of
the available color tolerance capabilities of the devices.
[0032] Returning now to the method 56 presented in FIG. 4, in step
64, the requested print job 16 may be printed in accordance with
the scheduling determined in step 62. Generally speaking, unlike
steps 58 through 62 of the method 56, the execution of the print
job 16 on the printing press 12 that is selected by the print job
analysis system 34 may include human operator intervention. Indeed,
once a print plan (i.e., a particular printing press 12 or set of
printing presses 12 at a particular time or series of times) is
determined for the print job 16, the operator 42 of the PSP 44 may
at least partially perform the print job 16 manually. For example,
the operator 42 may set up the print job 16 on the printing press
12, monitor progress of the print job 16, remove the print job 16
once completed, perform QA for the print job 16 to ensure that the
color accuracy requirement level 38 for the print job 16 was
achieved, and so forth. However, in certain embodiments, as
described above, the QA for the print job 16 may be performed
automatically by the printing press 12 according to the color
accuracy requirement level 38 for the print job 16.
[0033] FIG. 5 is an example of another method 66 for using the
color accuracy requirement level 38 in accordance with present
embodiments. More specifically, FIG. 5 describes the situation in
which the color accuracy requirement level 38 is not submitted
directly by the customer 40 and/or the operator 42 of the PSP 44 as
part of the print job request 36 for a particular print job 16.
Rather, the print job analysis system 34 may analyze the print job
request 36 to determine an appropriate color accuracy requirement
level 38 for the print job 16. In step 68, the print job analysis
system 34 may receive the print job request 36 for the print job
16, which may be submitted via the interfaces 54. However, in
contrast to step 60 described above, the print job request 36 does
not include the color accuracy requirement level 38 being entered
directly by the customer 40 and/or operator 42 or selected from the
plurality of recommended color accuracy requirement levels 38. For
example, the customer 40 and/or operator 42 may not know an
appropriate color accuracy requirement level 38 to be used for the
print job 16, or the color accuracy requirement level 38 may have
simply been omitted as part of the print job request 36.
[0034] As such, in step 70, the print job analysis system 34 may
determine the appropriate color accuracy requirement level 38 for
the print job request 36 by analyzing the print job 16 based on a
variety of parameters. In general, as described above, the print
job analysis system 34 evaluates the print job 16 to determine an
appropriate color accuracy requirement level 38 to both maximize
customer satisfaction in the resulting print job 16 and minimize
the requirements (e.g., consumables, and so forth) for the printing
press 12 used to print the print job 16, thereby improving the
overall efficiency of the PSP 44.
[0035] For example, the color accuracy requirement level 38 may be
determined for the print job request 36 based on the type of
customer 40 who is submitting the print job request 36. Certain
customers 40 (e.g., magazines, book publishers, marketing firms,
and so forth) may historically require higher color accuracy than
other customers 40 (e.g., schools, churches, and so forth). As
such, the print job analysis system 34 may take the type of
customer 40 into account when determining a color accuracy
requirement level 38 to automatically submit with the print job
request 36. Moreover, the print job analysis system 34 may take the
specific identity of the customer 40 into account when determining
a color accuracy requirement level 38 to automatically submit with
the print job request 36. In other words, the print job analysis
system 34 may include historical data (e.g., a lookup table)
relating to color accuracy requirement levels 38 the specific
customer 40 has either directly requested or approved as
appropriate color accuracy requirement levels 38 in previous print
jobs 16.
[0036] The print job analysis system 34 may also take other
parameters into account when determining a color accuracy
requirement level 38 to automatically submit with the print job
request 36. For example, the print job analysis system 34 may take
print parameters (e.g., print size, substrate used, finish, amount
of text versus images, types of images, number of images, amount of
black & white versus color, and so forth) of the print job 16
into account when determining the color accuracy requirement level
38. In addition, the print job analysis system 34 may take image
parameters (e.g., image parameters based on an image content
analysis) in the requested print job 16 into account when
determining the color accuracy requirement level 38. Furthermore,
the print job analysis system 34 may take pricing parameters (e.g.,
overall cost, cost per particular pages, cost versus time in which
the print job 16 will be delivered, and so forth) of the print job
request 36 into account when determining the color accuracy
requirement level 38. For example, customers 40 submitting print
job requests 36 at higher prices may generally expect higher color
accuracy than customers 40 submitting print job request 36 at lower
prices.
[0037] In addition, as described above, when determining an
appropriate color accuracy requirement level 38 for the print job
request 36, the print job analysis system 34 may actually determine
that the color accuracy requirement level 38 should be set on a
segment-by-segment (e.g., page-by-page) basis. For example, certain
segments of the print job 16 may include primarily images, whereas
other segments of the print job 16 may include primarily text. The
print job analysis system 34 may take this into account and set
different color accuracy requirement levels 38 for the different
segments of the print job 16.
[0038] Once the print job analysis system 34 has automatically
determined the appropriate color accuracy requirement level 38 (or
color accuracy requirement levels 38) for the print job request 36,
the print job analysis system 34 may, in certain embodiments,
present the determined color accuracy requirement level 38 (or
color accuracy requirement levels 38) to the operator 42 of the PSP
44 via the display 52, such that the operator 42 may approve of (or
change) the determined color accuracy requirement level 38 (or
color accuracy requirement levels 38) via the interfaces 54.
[0039] Then, in step 72, the requested print job 16 may be
scheduled such that the color accuracy requirement level 38
submitted with the print job request 36 is achieved for the print
job 16. Finally, in step 74, the requested print job 16 may be
printed in accordance with the scheduling determined in step 72. It
will be understood that steps 72 and 74 of the method 66 are
substantially similar steps 62 and 64 of the method 56 described
above with respect to FIG. 4.
[0040] The embodiments presented herein enable the PSP 44 to
differentiate print jobs 16 by color accuracy requirement levels 38
that are either directly submitted with the print job requests 36
by the customers 40 (or with the help of the operators 42) or
automatically determined by the print job analysis system 34. This
enables the PSP 44 to increase production efficiency, increase
customer satisfaction, and reduce waste (e.g., of consumables, and
so forth). In addition, the embodiments presented herein enable a
better fit between the print jobs 16 and the printing presses 12
available to perform the print jobs 16.
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